Reps. Smucker and Rooney introduced the Department of Education Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act and the Department of Labor Accountability Act – legislation that would provide the Secretaries of the Departments of Education and Labor more authority to discipline or fire employees who have engaged in misconduct, and would shorten an appeals process that often lasts several years. The bills also grant the Secretaries the authority to revoke bonuses for underperforming employees and, in specific cases, reduce the pensions of executive-level employees who are disciplined.

“I’m glad to work with Rep. Rooney in this effort to provide more accountability in our federal agencies,” said Rep. Smucker. “Employees should have proper protections in place to report misconduct, and those at fault should not be receiving financial compensation in the form of bonuses. These bills are a step towards helping end the bureaucratic status quo that for too long has resisted reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our federal agencies.”

"These reforms provide common sense safeguards for whistleblowers while simultaneously making it easier to rid government agencies of bad actors that are not working in the best interest of the American people,” said Rep. Rooney. “I look forward to both bills passing the House with bipartisan support and making government more accountable.”

Earlier this year, the House passed similar legislation to address misconduct at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act received broad bipartisan support, passing the House 368-55.